Of all our feathered friends in the Northwoods, there is NOTHING better than seeing Bald Eagles soaring above, but I wouldn’t have a problem choosing my second favorite bird whatsoever. Of all the birds we see, there is only one with so many unique characteristics, and that would be the common loon. This bird cannot walk on land, does not fly during the summer, can be under water up to 5 minutes, can dive as deep as 200 feet, can survive in freshwater and saltwater and can fly at night during migration.

In the fall, days get shorter, temperatures start to drop, and loons know it’s about time to head to their winter homes. Late summer/early fall, adult loons will start their stressful migration in small groups while the juvenile loons that were hatched late June into July can stay into November. Most people know in order for loons to take flight; they run on the surface of the water flapping their wings, but wind is usually needed also. The smaller the lake the stronger wind is needed for loons to take flight.

Two of the reasons for juvenile loons leaving well after the adults is strength and feather development. During the summer, loons have soft and dense feathers that provide insulation and are waterproof. Their flight feathers that are needed to migrate are longer and stiffer feathers on their wings to assist in lifting and on their tails for control while flying, but those flight feathers do not develop until later in the season.

If you have been on the water mid to late October, you might have noticed loons flapping their wings more often. Well, those are young loons building their wing strength which is important for their long migration. How crucial is powerful wings for loons?

A loons wingspan is short compared to the size of it’s body and unlike other birds a loons wings are flapping continually 3 times per second in order to stay airborne. Even though adult loons can weigh over 10 pounds and juveniles over 5 pounds, they are strong fliers, but during their trip south, loons can fly 70 mph, reach altitudes up to 3000 feet and some that have been banded with GPS have flown close to 1000 miles without stopping.

Most common loons for our area migrate to the Gulf of Mexico, but there were a few that were banded that migrated to the Florida coast also. Because of the distance, most juvenile loons cannot fly the amount of time or miles an adult can so their journey could take 2 to 4 weeks to reach their winter home where they will stay for 2 to 4 years before returning to the Northwoods. Being my second favorite feathered friend, I can’t wait to hear that eerie call come spring.